Track system for roof tops

ABSTRACT

A track and rail system for vehicles operating on roof tops is provided with rails and crossties, whereby additional support ties, two per crosstie, are interposed between roof and crossties. Spacer bushings adjust the level of the crossties individually relative to the support ties, as laid on the roof. The support ties have an opening each for receiving a pin that extends down from the respective crosstie, traversing the spacer bushing for positioning. Noise damping disks are interposed between bushings and support ties.

United States Patent Hiergeist Sept. 3, 1974 [54] TRACK SYSTEM FOR ROOFTOPS 2,730,306 1/1956 Mi1 1er 238/281 Inventor: gig ngigigg sn L p3,618,851 11/1971 Smith et al 238/281 Germany FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS Assigneez Mannesmann Leichtbau GmbH 1,272,326 7/1968Germany 238/281 Munich, Germany Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.[22] Flled' 1972 Assistant ExaminerRichard A. Bertsch 21 App} 313,902Attorney, Agent, or FirmSmyth, Roston & Pavitt [30] Foreign ApplicationPriority Data [57] ABSTRACT Dec. 31, 1971 Germany 2165825 A track andrail system for vehicles Operating tops is provided with rails andcrossties, whereby addi- [52 US. Cl. 238/10 R, 238/26, 238/29, iioiialSupport ties two P ciossiie are interposed 238/281 tween roof andcrossties. Spacer bushings adjust the [51 Int. Cl E0lb 23/00 level ofthe crossiies individually relative to the P- [58] Field of Search238/10, 1, 26, 23, 24, P ties, as laid on the roof- The Support tieshave 238/281, 27, 29; 104/10 opening each for receiving a pin thatextends down from the respective crosstie, traversing the spacer [56]References Cited bushing for positioning. Noise damping disks are inter-UNITED STATES PATENTS posed between bushings and support ties. 755,8103/1904 Swigart 238/24 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures r F W PAIENIEDSEP arm3.888.172 SHEHSOF 3- TRACK SYSTEM FOR ROOF TOPS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to a track system on and alongthe edge of a roof and provided, for example, for carriages with boomsfrom which working platforms are suspended.

Track systems of this type are known generally, and they include railswith crossties arranged in the usual manner, transversely to the railsand with regular spacing between the ties. The crossties may be securedto the rooftop of the building. Regular spacing of these ties generallyensures even distribution of load on the respective base, which in thiscase, happens to be a roof. However, the direction of the walls carryingthe roof is sometimes not identical with the direction of the ties.Consequently, the roof must be provided for additional load bearingcapability, so that particularly the portion of the roof not directlysupported by wall structure suffices to carry the load of the tracksystem and of the vehicle(s) running thereon.

Another problem is to be seen in that roofs to be equipped with suchrail system are not necessarily even and may have different slopes. Asloping or oblique track system poses, of course, problems as to thedriving conditions for any vehicle. A heavy boom, crane, or othercantilever construction is a particularly troublesome vehicle. Thetracks mustbe installed to establish horizontal driving conditions butthe leveling of the track system is often quite complicated. Moreover,the system once installed must be checked regularly and quitefrequently, particularly as to position of leveling shims or the like,sufficiency thereof or wear or displacement, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide for a track system which distributes the load better than theknown systems. Particularly, the crossties should distribute the load ofthe track and carriage system, so that the load can be distributed intothe walls carrying the roof on which the track system is to beinstalled, obviating the need for otherwise unnecessary roofreenforcement.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, it issuggested to provide supporting sills or ties with apertures and to laythese ties along the contemplated track, but in accordance with the roofand supporting wall structure. The supporting ties are provided anddistributed so that at least two are available for each crosstie. Thecrossties have bolts, pins or posts that are inserted into the openingsof the respective support ties, there being spacer tubes or ringsdisposed between the support ties and the crossties to establish aparticular level for the (upwardly directed) supporting surface of thecrossties. The crossties should be laid regularly as usual and extendtransverse to the direction of the track to be laid, but the crosstiesare placed only onto the support ties not directly on the roof. Therails are then installed on the crossties in accordance with the desiredtrack.

As a consequence, the load can be distributed onto the roofindependently from the direction of extension of the rails and of thecrossties, as the support ties and sills do not have to have specifieddirection relative to the railcrosstie system; the support ties areinstalled in accordance with the roof structure, and further inaccordance with the wall structure underneath as supporting the roof.The support ties can be turned on the respective bolt axis to assume themost favorable direction as far as distributing load onto the roof isconcerned.

The support ties can be made of any material, wood or iron. They are,however, preferably provided as hollow steel profiles. The spacer ringsor bushings level the rail system relative to the roof to assumehorizontal disposition with respect to any vehicle thereon. Annularshims and/or washers may provide for local fine adjustment of thecrosstie level. The rail system once established does not require anyfurther maintenance as far as level position is concerned. The spacerbushings will not slip out from under the crossties for any reason suchas shaking of the building or weather.

In accordance with a further improvement, the bolts should have a collarto be locally widened in diameter where affixed to the crosstie. Thecollar surface has diameter and width at least equal to or larger thanthe respective (axial) annular support surface of the spacer rings orbushings. Such dimensions ensure'that the annular spacer elements do notdamage the crossties during extensive and longlasting use of the tracksystem. The collar bears against the support surfaces of the spacer andvice versa. Moreover, the inner diameter of the spacer rings or bushingscan be larger than the outer diameter of the bolts (other than thecollar portion) which facilitates installation and, if necessary,exchange of the spacer.

In accordance with a further improvement of the invention, damping meansare disposed between the annular spacer elements and the support tiesand sills. The damping elements impede noise propagation from the railsystem via the support ties into the building. Also, any tilting actionon the rails is balanced as far as load pressure on the roof isconcerned, due to elasticity of the damping means. Washers between thedamping means and the spacers prevent damage of the damping means duringoperation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the specification concludes withclaims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subjectmatter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed that theinvention, the objects and features of the invention and furtherobjects, features and advantages thereof will be better understood fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross section through a rail support system in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section transverse to the section of FIG. 1 and onsomewhat smaller scale; and

FIG. 3 is a top elevation of a representative system improved as todetails as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Proceeding now to the detailed description of the drawings, rails suchas 10 and 10 are supported on crossties in two parallel tracks, spacedin accordance with the selected gauge. Each crosstie l is made ofprofile steel with U-shaped cross section, whereby the legs of the Uextend down, and the bottom of the U serves as supporting surface forthe rails.

Each crosstie has two bolts, pins or posts such as 2, 2', welded to thetie in-between the legs and extending parallel thereto and in downdirection. Immediately below the welding joint, each bolt has widerdiameter or is provided with a, possibly, integral collar 9,9. Aplurality of support ties such as 3 and 3' are distributed over the topof a roof. Each support tie 3,3, is of tubular construction butrectangular cross section, i.e., it is a hollow section and has anopening 4 through which passes one of the pins, posts or bolts 2, 2. Therelative position of a crosstie on a support tie is determined asfollows:

A damping plate or disk 7 with central opening rests directly on supporttie 3, and in alignment with the aperture or opening 4 therein. Aprotective, annular washer sits on annulus 7, and a spacer annulus suchas a bushing rests thereon. The upper axial end face of tube or bushing5 bears against the collar 9 and hereby supports crosstie 1.

As stated, the support ties 3 and 3' lie on the roof in a manner thatdistributes best any load into the roof and any wall structure thatsupports the roof. Also, location of support girders etc. of the roof,should be taken into consideration for the orientation of the ties 3 and3' etc. Moreover, the crossties must have orientation and level inaccordance with the track structure such as extension and level thereofas a whole. Therefore, the orientation of the support ties relative tothe crossties has a quasi-random character.

The length of any spacer bushing determines the relative height of acrosstie above a support tie or sill and should be chosen on basis ofthe local requirement. The bushings 5, 5, may, however, be of standardsize, and additional annular washers may be added for fine trimming ofthe level of the crossties.

The rails are affixed to the several crossties by clamping and mountingstructure 11, 11', shown in FIG. 2 only, and being of conventionalconstruction. As decated close to the roof edge, so that these supportties are all supported on or close to that roof portion, underneath ofwhich runs the outer wall of the particular building.

The other ends of the crossties l are interconnected by similar, hollowsections 12, and a protective guard picted particularly in FIG. 2, onlyone of the bolts 2 of a crosstie is secured to the tie directlyunderneath one of the rails 10. The other bolt (2') is affixed to thesame crosstie at one end thereof.

This arrangement of bolts and support ties combines favorable loaddistribution from the track-withcarriage system onto the support ties,without exerting excessive bending forces onto the crossties, andwithout compelling the support ties to be. positioned too close to eachother. The elements 2, 3, 4', 5, 6, 7' and 9' correspond to thosewithout and denote the crosstie-support tie relation at the end .of thecrosstie. The second rail 10 is located between the two supporttie-crosstie systems.

The track system thusly provided may serve as track for a vehicle with acantilever boom or the like from which is suspended a working platform.FIG. 3 shows the track system as running along and close to the edge ofa roof, and the working platform is to be lowered along the wall beyondthe roof edge.

It can readily be seen that total spacing structure 5-6-7 (or 5'-6'-7')as effective in each location, is held in position by the respectiveposts 2 or 2, as welded onto crosstie 1. The posts 2, 2, aresufficiently long so that they will always project to some extent intothe hollow support ties 3. The resilient damping washers, 7, 7 preventany hard metal-to-metal contact between the superstructure and thesupport ties so as to inhibit noise propagation.

As can be seen particularly from FIG. 3, the one end of each crosstiehaving a support tie underneath, is 10- rail 8 is secured thereto andruns along the extension of the tracks, guarding the rails as well asthe roof edge. The top view of FIG. 3 shows how the system can readilyaccommodate a projection of the building.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but allchanges and modifications thereof not constituting departures from thespirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included.

I claim:

1. In a rail system for installation on the roof top of a building astrack system for vehicles with cantilever cranes, booms for suspendingworking platforms, using pairs of rail tracks, comprising:

a plurality of support ties disposed along the track on the roof top andin orientations in accordance with the construction of the said roof assupported by carrying walls or the like, each support tie provided withan upwardly directed opening;

a plurality of crossties for supporting the rails, and for mounting onthe support ties, there being at least two of the support ties of theplurality of support ties associated with a crosstie of the plurality ofcrossties;

two pins secured to a crosstie of the plurality, and respectivelyreceived by the openings of the two support ties associated with thecrosstie, each pin having a collar where secured to the respectivecrosstie, the, collar having an annular surface, and

a bushing for each pin interposed between the crossties and therespective support ties and received by the respective pins and bearingaxially against the collar from below, the axial end face of the bushinghaving diameter not larger than the annular surface of the collar foradjusting the level of the respective crosstie in relation to therespective support tie as disposed on the said roof top.

2. System as in claim 1, the one ends of the crossties beinginterconnected and provided with a guard rail.

3. System as in claim 1, the support ties being hollow sections ofrectangular cross section, the crossties have U-shaped cross sectionwith downwardly directed legs of the U, the pin extending in-between thelegs.

4. In a rail system for installation on the roof top of a building astrack system for vehicles with cantilever cranes, booms for suspendingworking platforms or the like, using pairs of rail tracks, comprising:

a plurality of support ties disposed along the track on the roof top andin orientations in accordance with the construction of the said roof assupported by carrying walls or the like, each support tie provided withan upwardly directed opening;

a plurality of crossties for supporting the rails, and for mounting onthe support ties, there being at least two of the support ties of theplurality of support ties associated with a crosstie of the plurality ofcrossties;

two pins secured to a crosstie of the plurality, and respectivelyreceived by the openings of the two support ties associated with thecrosstie;

annular spacer means interposed between the crossties and the respectivesupport ties and received by 3 ,8 3 3 l 72 5 6 the respective pins, foradjusting the level of the reeach pin, respectively for impeding noisepropagaspective crosstie in relation to the respective support tie asdisposed on the said roof top; and a damping disk and a protectivewasher interposed between the spacer means and the support tie on 5 tioninto the support ties and for protecting the respective damping disk.

1. In a rail system for installation on the roof top of a building astrack system for vehicles with cantilever cranes, booms for suspendingworking platforms, using pairs of rail tracks, comprising: a pluralityof support ties disposed along the track on the roof top and inorientations in accordance with the construction of the said roof assupported by carrying walls or the like, each support tie provided withan upwardly directed opening; a plurality of crossties for supportingthe rails, and for mounting on the support ties, there being at leasttwo of the support ties of the plurality of support ties associated witha crosstie of the plurality of crossties; two pins secured to a crosstieof the plurality, and respectively received by the openings of the twosupport ties associated with the crosstie, each pin having a collarwhere secured to the respective crosstie, the collar having an annularsurface, and a bushing for each pin interposed between the crossties andthe respective support ties and received by the respective pins andbearing axially against the collar from below, the axial end face of thebushing having diameter not larger than the annular surface of thecollar for adjusting the level of the respective crosstie in relation tothe respective support tie as disposed on the said roof top.
 2. Systemas in claim 1, the one ends of the crossties being interconnected andprovided with a guard rail.
 3. System as in claim 1, the support tiesbeing hollow sections of rectangular cross section, the crossties haveU-shaped cross section with downwardly directed legs of the U, the pinextending in-between the legs.
 4. In a rail system for installation onthe roof top of a building as track system for vehicles with cantilevercranes, booms for suspending working platforms or the like, using pairsof rail tracks, comprising: a plurality of support ties disposed alongthe track on the roof top and in orientations in accordance with theconstruction of the said roof as supported by carrying walls or thelike, each support tie provided with an upwardly directed opening; aplurality of crossties for supporting the rails, and for mounting on thesupport ties, there being at least two of the support ties of theplurality of support ties associated with a crosstie of the plurality ofcrossties; two pins secured to a crosstie of the plurality, andrespectively received by the openings of the two support ties associatedwith the crosstie; annular spacer means interposed between the crosstiesand the respective support ties and received by the respective pins, foradjusting the level of the respective crosstie in relation to therespective support tie as disposed on the said roof top; and a dampingdisk and a protective washer interposed between the spacer means and thesupport tie on each pin, respectively for impeding noise propagationinto the support ties and for protecting the respective damping disk.